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Most of them would reply, “We don’t know dragons” and they were saying the truth, these villages were literally at the end of the world and very far from civilization. They were in their own world, a peaceful one where there were no golds to fight for or a throne for one to sit and rule other. They ruled themselves and seemed to be living so happy.

Aprophil grew tired of looking for something he didn’t even know where to find, it would have been easy for him if he found the Dragon Hunters and he could have started from there, but we don’t always get what we want, right?

One day when it was so hot and messy, Aprophil was walking in the heat around a small town he encountered last night. He had a light white shirt with black trouser, all made from wool and he wasn’t used to wearing such fabrics but this was a new land for him and he was ought to fit. He was holding a black hat on his left hand, and on his right a small bag full of coins to get him through.

His sword was attached on his waist, he never left it not even once.

From outside of an inn, Lord Balrus was looking at Aprophil and how worn out he was. He seemed to be irritated by the sun and he was also sweating, asking every person he comes across about the whereabouts of Dragon Hunters, and he was getting the same answer every time he asked. “Thank you” Aprophil said to these people he asked with no avail.

When his gaze turned to the inn, he was awestruck when he thought he saw Lord Balrus. Dressed in brown and yellow silk with black trouser, and that bald head clearly confirmed it was Lord Balrus, and Aprophil raced towards the inn with excitement but also he had questions as to how did Balrus come to find him here.

“Balrus?” Aprophil’s eyes widened with amazement. “Out of all places I thought I would see you, this wasn’t on the list” he said and rushed to hug him.

.....

There was a smile on Aprophil’s face upon seeing Lord Balrus, somehow he felt as if Balrus’s presence there would mean well for him. The hug lasted for a few seconds before Lord Balrus broke it and held Aprophil’s cheeks with his two arms.

“How have you been?” asked Balrus, like a caring father that he was.

Aprophil took Balrus’s hands and kissed them, “I was lost, but now I am hopeful. How did you find me?”

“That’s not a question you get to ask me dear child, I would always find you”

Lord Balrus pulled in Aprophil for another hug and he seemed to be in relief after he found him alive. Then they sat on a log nearby and started to talk, each eager to tell his own tale.

“Are you going to start or should I?” asked Aprophil.

“You seem you have a lot to say, you go first”

“Alright, so… I haven’t yet found the Dragon Hunters. These people don’t even seem to know them, and I’ve been here for a week”

Lord Balrus sighed softly, “Aprophil, I don’t think it that’s important right now, you are not going to fight with Artemis anymore” he said looking straight at Aprophil. “Unless you want to die of course”

“What? Aryan and I have a plan, and she must be in the Mines now with Lord Leoric”

“She is not in the Mines, and neither is Leoric. By now the city must have been sacked already, and House Arteides’s sigil has been raised high above the sky”

The whole thing confused Aprophil, “What do you mean by the city has been sacked?” he asked unaware of what was going on.

“Listen to me Aprophil, you can’t win this war and take the throne. Your mother was right, I may have misled you somehow and I apologize for that ─”

Aprophil abruptly stood up, then he intervened, “My mother? Are we really talking about my mother now?” he blurted out.

“Jordy was right, you weren’t born for the throne” said Lord Balrus and even though it was hard for him to say it, he knew it was important for him to just tell it the way he was supposed to.

“I wasn’t born for the throne? Wow, that’s so low coming from you my lord”

Balrus stood up too and he tried to reach out for Aprophil’s cheeks, but Aprophil pushed him.

“I am trying to save you here. If you think Leoric is going to back up your claim to the throne, then you are as ignorant as I thought” said Lord Balrus.

“I am the true heir to Sweet Waters throne, right now my usurper brother is sitting on my throne. If I have a chance to fight him and take my throne, then I have to take it. Aryan and I have a plan, which you know nothing about my lord” Aprophil finished by pointing his finger at Balrus, he was hurt and anyone could see the look on his eyes.

“I know nothing about your plan?” Lord Balrus scoffed. “You forget who I am child, I knew from the very first day she marched with an army sailors and pirates to the Mines. Leoric took her inn and gave shelter to the sailors and pirates who by now have already escaped the city and went back to the ocean. One can never turn a sailor into a soldier, I thought you knew that better”

Lord Balrus took his time, he didn’t want to go hard on Aprophil, he had already tasted defeat and the last thing he needed was to be scorned and shouted at.

“Aprophil, listen to me… go back home. To your wife and your two beautiful sons, and your mother who fought so hard for you to be who you are now. A war is coming, a much bigger war and kingdoms will be set on fire. You are not in this fight and even if you were, you will die at the very beginning. Aryan has betrayed you, she fights for the strong ones and you are not”

“I’m not strong?” asked Aprophil, he didn’t know how did he suddenly become weak.

“You fainted when you were crossing the Freezing Sea. Amabel’s men are laughing at you and they are calling you names in Prophis, no one wants a weak King” suddenly Balrus got a hold of Aprophil’s shirt and he made sure he listened. “The Mines is sacked, Aryan is nowhere and Leoric will never be the richest man in Maldonia again. Go home! Go home Aprophil, the throne was never yours” he said this directly on Aprophil’s face and then he let him go.

By the time Lord Balrus finished talking, tears were rolling down between Aprophil’s cheeks. “What about my people?” he asked while trying not to cry. “They want me”

“Maldonians don’t want you. If we were to go to Blackmount right now, you will be shocked at how fast they have forgotten about you. No one prays for you Aprophil, it’s a trap. Go home…”

Balrus walked over to his horse who was tied near a tree outside the inn, he untied the beast and mounted it. Then he turned to look at Aprophil, “There’s a harbor, thirty miles from here. Take a ship back to Whitebridge and be a father to your sons, and a husband to your wife. You’ve lost son, this is where it all ends” then Balrus threw a small bag to Aprophil, it was full of gold coins to help him buy a passage home.

Lord Balrus hushed his horse and he rode him away, leaving Aprophil in wonderment and clearly not knowing what to do next. Things seemed to be going so well for him until Balrus showed up with new information. Had he been living in the dark? How could he miss that Aryan would betray him? But they had such a strong understanding, Aprophil cursed at Aryan even though she was a far.

That day Aprophil spent fighting with locals, breaking things and when he had enough, he took a horse and rode towards the harbor. He knew he will be very informed back in Whitebridge, so he found a ship and booked a passage home, this time he didn’t know if he was going for good or if he will make a comeback.